It provides free online help for hotels and handicraft sellers. It aims to boost sales and hotel occupancy rates during the low season.

It is part of the e-Tourism and e-Handicrafts initiative that received Bt24 million in funding from the provincial government.

It caters to both industries in the eight upper Northern provinces that between them generate Bt58 billion a year.

Online marketing agents, www.thaicom.com and www.ThaiTrade

Point.com, are the advisors.

The company will train staff to meet demand and better competitiveness in online marketing. It has already trained 100 graduates as trainees.

"They will be sent to help business entrepreneurs develop websites and build online marketing channels free of charge," said Ittachai Jakpitak, a project advisor.

Companies with space and facilities could take on trainees while others with "logistical problems" could use the incu?bation centre at the college.

Twenty-five hotels and handicraft companies have joined the pilot scheme.

"Businesses have expressed a great demand in online marketing support and have requested thousands of personnel to help local operators promote their busi?nesses online," explained Ittachai.

To learn more contact the college at 0-5394-2646.

Atsadaporn Kamthai

Citylife, Chiang Mai